A True Day-Brightener: Baseball and Norman Rockwell (Vanity)

10/8/2014 | San Francisco Giants

[JennysCool]

Baseball games aren't won or lost on one catch, are they? The game between the Nationals and Giants last night just may have been. Hunter Pence of the Giants made a spectacular catch to rob Jayson Werth of the Nationals of an extra-base hit, and this photo became an instant classic. But it's more than a great sports shot. The crowd behind the chain-link watching the catch is pure Norman Rockwell. I think this photo captures the America we love, and would like to have back someday.

[safeasthebanks]

I'm actually a "lapsed" hockey fan, but definitely remember Ken Dryden. I'll keep my eye out for those books.

I actually remember him being a fairly good commentator as well, I think.

[CatOwner]

One of the best parts about the Giants winning was the removal of the possibility of Obama throwing out the first pitch at a Nats' WS home game. Delightful!

Good to see the Giants and the Cardinals in the NLCS. Neither team were given much respect this past week as it was "Dodgers lose" or "Nats lose".

I loathe the city of San Francisco and what it stands for these days (lived in N. California all my life), but for some reason, I do not associate the Giants much with San Francisco. That became more true once they got their new stadium, built *and* being paid for by the owners of the Giants.

[longfellow]

My father told us how he skipped school to see them win the pennant.

[Scoutmaster]

Did you feel that way about Roger Angell, particularly when he wrote 'Distance' about Bob Gibson?

[NTHockey]

The fondest memories of my childhood occurred at the Polo Grounds. Actually talking to the right fielder from atop the wall, the shot heard around the world, Willy Mays catch AND throw, the amazing feat of Dusty Rhodes, etc. all live on in my mind.

The heartaches are there too - the bad years, Sid Gordon and Willard Marshall (the RF alluded to above) being traded, the departure for SF - are there also.

Baseball was my first love, but with years and the separation have diminished my love. There has always been one spark that lights it all back again - GIANTS WIN; DODGERS LOSE.

[oh8eleven]

Neither team were given much respect this past week as it was "Dodgers lose" or "Nats lose".
As a Giants fan, I couldn't agree more. But that's okay, the Giants got the same dissin' from the media in 2010 and 2012 and all we did was win the WS both years.
If it means we'll win in 2014, I'll take it.

[safeasthebanks]

Never heard of him. Nor do I care to - not a St Louis fan.

And you fail logic 101 - just because I think there is a lot of tripe written by dweebs about baseball, doesn't mean I think EVERYTHING written about baseball (even by a dweeb) is tripe.

[oh8eleven]

skipped school to see them win the pennant.
The Yankees ruled back in the day and if we didn't skip school, we wore our (hidden) transistor radios to class.
As kids, we could never understand how the WS ended up in another AL city once in a great while.
We thought the WS was a tournament for the Yanks vs. the NL.

[Scoutmaster]

Roger Angell has no connection to St. Louis.

He's 93 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this year for his writing.

[longfellow]

Considering that he went to a Catholic school he was taking his life in his own hands with the nuns back then.

[safeasthebanks]

No but Bob Gibson does, and that was the Angell piece you referenced. Sorry, guess I just don't generally have a lot time for these purveyors of great prose about sports. I don't feel like I need to.

I played.

[JennysCool]

And it’s one beautiful park! Best in the majors by far!

[onedoug]

That kid in the lower right understands. Even now.

[Carry_Okie]

Nuff said.